Discovering a sweet, chocolatey round for every mood
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Was it even a lockdown if you didn’t buy a designer cookie? Was it even a lockdown if you didn’t buy one, then immediately get hit by mouth-watering ads on your social media? Was it even a lockdown if you didn’t buy one, get hit by said annoyingly enticing cookie ads, and, well, give in?
It was definitely a quaran-cookie situation for me. At any point in time, you can find stuffing my face with the aforementioned sweet pastry. People started flaunting their heightened productivity and creativity on social media this lockdown, creating masterpieces and building businesses—meanwhile, I found my purpose laser-focused into one goal: the cookie hunt.
I don’t know what it is about finding a perfect cookie. It may be the thrill of buying several in a month, one after the other. It may be the indulgent experience of never running out of cookie varieties to munch on. It could also be the fact that there is not one perfect cookie—some days you’ll find yourself craving for chunky bites with a walnut crunch; on other days you want them as chewy palm-sized treats with gobs of chocolate chunks.
And guess what? I’m ready to share the results of my self-imposed quarantine project with you: The Cookie Digest, a short list of cookies for every lockdown mood.
1. For your stress-eating moments
Bad news on TV, animals run amok in Metro Manila, a literal plague you have to live through—2020 is a bitch and everyone knows it. Luckily during the times you’d want to munch away and zone out on Netflix, we found the perfectly sized, perfectly flavored cookie for the occasion from Bake Scout.
I used to be a round, chunky cookie advocate but Bake Scout truly made me a flat cookie convert. The dough gives just the right kind of chew, and while they don’t scrimp on the chocolate, they balance it well per cookie so you don’t get too sick of too much flavor in one bite. Plus, these Belgian Chocolate Chip Cookies are all topped off with sea salt, which really wraps up your Bake Scout cookie experience perfectly. The best part? They deliver it to you same day and they offer it in as much as 30 pieces per box. And yes, I have finished such order by myself. P.S. This one’s extra awesome when served chilled from the fridge.
Bake Scout Belgian Chocolate Chip Cookies, starts at P120/box of 4
2. For when you miss the outside world
Maybe this one’s for me, who used to live and work in BGC, where I used to coffice a lot at Harlan and Holden’s cute minimalist cafe because coffee. Theirs was the love-at-first bite dark Chocolate Walnut Cookie: round and chunky, with dough that is right in between dense, buttery and chunky. It’s crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside.
Some even say it’s a perfect, if not better, dupe for the famous Levain Bakery cookie, just because it comes in a smaller, one-sitting-friendly size. My favorite bit about it is its generous with its walnut and chocolate filling. Its crisp outside texture paired with a chewy-fluffy inside (especially when served warm), really balances the whole thing out.
I discovered you can purchase this formerly in-cafe only treat via their app, wherein you can pay for your goods, see its progress from prep to pick-up ready, and just have it picked up by your own courier. We love technology.
because coffee Chocolate Walnut Cookie, P100/each
3. For a ‘treat yourself’ weekend
If you’re a fan of the generally loved ’MO Cookie, you’ll love the Get Baked Nice ones too. It’s the large (huge!!!), chunky, does not scrimp with the filling, and may or may not be finished in one sitting type of cookie.
For the times when you feel like a treat, their Dark Chocolate Walnut variant is the best. It comes in a pack of four, which initially cookie monsters might think is not enough (aka me when I bought two boxes). But when it arrives you’ll realize it’s much larger than expected.
These are best at room temperature! Although it’s just as good when it’s warmed, it can get a little messy if you’re bingeing with your hands.
Get Baked Nice Dark Chocolate Walnut, P135/cookie
4. For when you want something different
When you think you’ve out-cookied yourself, carb enabler The Daily Knead has just the right cookie for you: the Muscovado Chocolate Chip Cookie. It has a different, toasty-sweet flavor to it because of the type of sugar used. It’s got that densely chewy and soft texture to the dough.
The chocolate quality is great too, especially when it’s served at room temperature. It’s all topped off with smoked Pangasinan sea salt, which really adds a well-rounded flavor and savory kick to it.
If you like it warm, this is great too! Pro tip: toast it a bit, then serve with vanilla ice cream and top with plain corn flakes.
Daily Knead Muscovado Chocolate Chip Cookies, starts at P465/pack of 5
5. For when you suddenly remember your health
I’ve been there: It’s your nth weekend in a row on lockdown, and you’ve successfully stocked up on cookies for your weekend snacking sitch, when your algorithm suddenly fails you and instead of more cookie ads they show you… workout videos.
You suddenly feel the need to get up and get quaran-toned! Go on a keto diet! Count your calories! But before you chuck your cookie habit, check first for options—Mana Bites has the perfect flourless, gluten-free variety for you. Each cookie serving is made with coconut flour and cashew meal, plus, it’s literally macro-counted (Carb 11g / Fat 8.2g / Protein 3g) and calorie counted (132 Cals) for you, so it makes the perfect nutrient dense substitute snack for when you wanna kick start your fitness journey without giving up your number one source of happiness.
Mana Bites The Dark Knight Cookies, P180/pack of 4
✺ Words by Belle Rodolfo
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BELLE IS A BEAUTY WRITER. ASIDE FROM HER SEARCH FOR THE PERFECT FOUNDATION, HER OTHER OBSESSIONS INCLUDE YOGA, PASTRIES, AND HER 11 CATS. FOR A CONSTANT REMINDER OF YOUR SWEET CRAVINGS, FOLLOW HER ONLINE: @BELLERODOLFO.
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